ERT_Carli Kinnear

LeaderProfile
with GLAINROBERTS-McCABE
RealizingLeadership.com
Carli KinnearPartnerandPracticeLeader
atSigniumInternational

Issue 3932
with GLAINROBERTS-McCABE
Leader Profile: Carli Kinnear with Glain Roberts-McCabe
Carli KinnearPartnerandPracticeLeader
atSigniumInternational
Carli Kinnear, Partner and Practice
Leader at Signium International, has lived
her life dedicated to guiding organizations
in transition through periods of significant
change. During a trip to South Africa,
her own life was changed in a profound way
by a catastrophic car accident. At a critical
time in her career, she sustained an injury
that impacted the portion of her brain
related to memory, reasoning, problem-
solving and task flexibility.
Carli sat down with Executive Roundtable
President Glain Roberts-McCabe to
share the deeply inspiring lessons she has
extracted from her journey of recovery
and how she summoned the resilience to
continue on her path undaunted.

Issue 39 33
GRM Carli… you’re currently Partner and Practice Leader at
Signium International but at the height of your career as a fast-
tracker at IBM, you had a significantly life changing experience.
Tell us what happened.
CK At that point in my life, I had a single-minded, laser-sharp
focus. My career ambition was to reach the level of Partner in a
global business consulting organization and deliver meaningful
work managing the people, culture and organizational risk in
transformational change programs. I had studied and excelled
in this field of work. I felt I had something to offer.
At PwC and ultimately IBM, I got the opportunity to achieve that
dream. I was running a $12MM business, delivering Change Strategy
work. It was the same year that I was finalizing my business case for
promotion and I had been burning the candle on both ends for way
too long. I needed a break.
I decided a trip to my native South Africa was what I needed to
recharge. Two days after my arrival, a close friend and I were driving
through a familiar neighborhood, when a minibus driver ignored a
stop street, plowing into my side of the vehicle. I didn’t see it coming.
I was knocked unconscious instantly and woke up in intensive care,
attached to various supporting devices, unable to move. I looked
around and recognized my friend. We were both alive!
My injuries included a pelvis fractured in three places, a broken
collar bone, multiple soft tissue injuries to my right side, from my
ear to my foot. The invisible and more profound damage was a
right frontal lobe brain injury. The right frontal lobe contains our
executive skills such as working memory, reasoning, problem-
solving and task flexibility. The skills I used and needed every day!
The weeks in the hospital in South Africa were challenging. Dazed,
I underwent multiple surgeries, while slowly piecing together what
had happened. I later learned that four people were involved in this

Issue 3934
accident and there was one fatality. After three weeks, I was cleared
to travel back to Canada, albeit mostly horizontal and in a wheelchair.
There were a couple of months of tremendous discomfort,
confusion and emotional uncertainty. My vision and cognition
were affected. I couldn’t read, I struggled to find words. I could
not tolerate loud noises or quick movements. It was absolutely
impossible to attempt any type of multi-tasking and I struggled
with my decision making. There were days that I felt overwhelmed.
The first six months of my rehabilitation involved weekly sessions
with a speech pathologist, a physiotherapist, an occupational
therapist and a trauma counsellor.
GRM What an unbelievable experience. People often joke ‘what
would you do if I got hit by a bus?’ but you literally did! I would have
thought that going through something this traumatic would really
slow you down, but that’s not exactly what happened.
CK Oh no, it did slow me down initially. In fact, everything slowed
down significantly. Getting anything done, even just getting
dressed, took so much longer. I was slow in responding to
questions. It was hard to remember things.
Within about seven weeks of arriving back in Toronto, the Managing
Partner for IBM Canada’s consulting business called me, asking if I
was still interested in staying in the partnership race. I appreciated
that call. I didn’t think twice before responding “Yes!”
After the first few months of adjusting to being mostly horizontal
and being in rehabilitation, I asked my therapists to help me with
my goal of finalizing and presenting my Partnership business
case. I started working a little every day, to build a presentation
that formed part of a rigorous global selection process that IBM’s
Consulting Business had in place.

Issue 39 35
Three months after my accident, I delivered that presentation to the
Canadian leadership team. I was still on a crutch and my right arm
was in a brace. I was able to make my presentation with conviction
and passion. I received a standing ovation. For a few brief minutes, I
felt like a rock star!!
That sensation didn’t last long. The process of preparing for and
delivering it took everything out of me and I could only focus and
concentrate for short periods of time. I collapsed from exhaustion
that night and it lasted a few days. A month later, I received the
news that I did not get the promotion for reasons beyond my
control. It was not for a lack of trying, and I felt I had gained a
practice run for the next round.
I was blown away by the level of support and encouragement I got
from everyone close to me during this time.
I pushed myself to re-enter my business role after six months of
intensive rehabilitation. I had learned to apply specific coping
techniques to manage my cognitive issues in a constructive way.
I still could not stay fully engaged in any specific task for more
than thirty minutes. I spent a lot of time in private meeting rooms
doing brain adjustment exercises between working sessions and
conference calls. One day at a time was my motto.
Around the one year mark after the accident, I realized that I was
not 100% “back.” It scared me. I found myself in the deepest, darkest
depression I had ever experienced. It was during this time that I
learned about the chemical imbalance that happens as a result of
brain injuries.
At the same time, the next promotion cycle in IBM started. I had
another opportunity. I built a new case, presented again, and got
the promotion. Eighteen months after my injury, when the veil
of depression started lifting, I had a huge celebration, called my
“Gratitude Soiree,” where I invited and thanked everyone who
helped me during that chapter.

Issue 3936
GRM As you look back on
that period of your life, how
did it change or shift you as an
individual and as a leader?
CK Looking back, it took me
about five years for the real
revelations to truly take effect.
To this day, I believe the accident
was a divine intervention. My lifestyle before the accident was not
sustainable and there were major lessons that I needed to learn
about what is really important in this life. My priorities started
shifting and I became more mindful of the need for balance,
authenticity, compassion and kindness in my everyday life.
I learned about the importance of a strong and resilient team. I
learned how to fully trust in the ability of one’s team and let go.
My leadership style shifted as a result of this and I stepped back.
I started leading from behind. I shone the light on high potential
individuals and worked harder to make them stand out.
I realized that I had been given a new opportunity to be a “new and
upgraded” version of myself, someone who was more authentic and
real. Over the past few years of my life, I have had the opportunity
to explore parts of my personality that had not been available
before. I call this phase my
“experiment in authenticity” and
my friends comment on living
vicariously through me.
GRM Change is a theme in
your life. You spent a significant
part of your career as a change
management consultant helping organizations navigate key
transitions. In your own life and career you have experienced many
Leadership Tip
Accept each new
opportunity with gratitude.
Leadership Tip
Trust in the ability of your
team and lead from behind.

Issue 39 37
truly significant transitions: from a child growing up in South Africa
during Apartheid, to working on projects to build a more integrated
South Africa, to a continental move to Canada, to your rehabilitation
from a devastating car crash, to making significant changes in your
personal life. What is the one key thing that you have learned about
navigating change as a result?
CK I regularly reflect on my experience in South Africa and the
unique vantage point I had of Nelson Mandela’s process that
ultimately resulted in transforming the country. I learned from that.
Change requires tremendous courage and will—and most certainly,
a well-orchestrated plan. And it certainly helps to have people
around you who can help, because it is not easy.
We have the wonder of choice in this life. When I immigrated I
chose to vote with my feet and change my future. I managed the
entire transition like a change project. With the accident, I chose to
experience it as a growth opportunity. When I made changes in my
personal relationships, it was hard but, in most cases, I have been
able to manage that process in a
thoughtful and respectful manner.
As people, when we choose to
change, we choose to grow and
that is truly the only thing that
matters in this life. To do that,
one needs courage and will.
GRM When I first heard your story, I felt like it was the
quintessential story of many fast-tracking leaders. You seemed to
have hit all the ways we tend to measure success in our society—
great job, great firm, the right title, financially secure. How are you
defining success for yourself today?
Leadership Tip
Change helps us grow.

Issue 3938
CK Today, I see myself as successful because I live purposefully,
mindfully, and with a greater awareness of my own actions and
their effect on others. My intention is to create a life of balance
and meaning, every day.
To me, meaning comes when one can collaborate, guide, inspire,
and support others or ultimately contribute to making the world
a better place.
When I consider all the elements that affect my wellbeing, (career,
money, health, friends and family, romance, personal growth, fun
and recreation), I am doing as much as I can to develop each of
those areas in a purposeful and mindful manner. Balancing all
those areas is my definition of success.
GRM What have you taken from this experience and how is it
shaping the next chapter of your life?
CK Well, on a more humorous note, one take away from this
experience is that the ability to multi-task is completely over-rated!
Focus on one thing at a time and do it well. We are so much more
efficient with our time when we do that .
Looking back, I am proud of my resilience, courage and passion
to forge ahead with the new opportunities that have opened up
for me. We all have the ability to bounce back. It’s about how we
choose to respond to our adversities.
I now realize that I was granted the chance to build a new dream,
and I am actively creating my next dream.
In the future, I want to continue to focus on change and growth.
I enjoy working with business leaders to find and grow the change
leaders of the future. I find meaning in coaching young leaders
through times of personal, professional and business change.
It is deeply rewarding to share my experiences in a way that
inspires others.

Issue 39 39
I want to make a difference in the
lives of others and leverage my
own lessons. This feels good.
I lead with my heart, not my head
or my ego.
GRM Thanks so much for sharing such a personal and inspiring story
with us. Listening to you has definitely prompted me to take a step
back and evaluate my priorities and definition of success, and take a
moment to reflect on and appreciate the people and opportunities
in my own life. I’m sure many of readers will feel the same.
Glain Roberts-McCabe
believes great leaders make
the difference and that every
leader can be their own kind
of great. As Founder and
President of The Executive
Roundtable Inc., she and her
team inspire great leadership through
innovative group, team and individual coaching
and mentoring programs.
For more information or to join the Roundtable
community visit: TheExecutiveRoundtable.com,
connect on Twitter @ExecRoundtable and
on Facebook.
Leadership Tip
Lead with heart.

ERT_Carli Kinnear

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